Alpha Thunder Tags- 4 WC blog 82
Retail Anti-Theft Device-3
Protect Store Devices AND Merchandise With Alpha Hard Tags
Retail mobile devices can be protected by the same retail anti-theft devices used to protect merchandise. In today’s retail environment, managers are using many different mobile devices to conduct daily operations. From tablets to handheld scanners, including i-pods and i-pads, devices are being used to track sales information, daily checklists, schedules, etc. I currently work part time in a retail store and we use mobile devices for a myriad of different tasks. I can scan to check store stock levels for merchandise, stockroom and sales floor locations for product that may appear to be out of stock and I can see if any of our nearby stores have the product if we are out of an item. We can even complete a credit card or debit card transaction sales transaction with our mobile devices to keep our customers from waiting in checkout lines. Interestingly, while the store uses Alpha Security products to prevent shoplifting, it does not use anything to protect these handheld devices that are so important to day to day operations. It would benefit not only my employer, but ANY retailer which uses mobile technology to protect these devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work in conjunction with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). When a piece of merchandise or equipment that has one of these retail anti-theft devices attached passes through an EAS antenna, the antenna alarm sounds and lights flash. These tags also have a built in alarm that activates if a device passes through an antenna and goes a certain distance away. In the event someone should attempt to remove a tag from a device, a tamper alarm activates and staff can respond to the alert, a loud, high pitched tone and prevent a theft.
You might be wondering how anyone would steal a store mobile device. Doing so is fairly straight forward. Although we wear holsters to carry our devices it is not uncommon to find scanners lying around the store. Sometimes they have been put down next to a register while a sales floor employee is helping a cashier with a customer carry-out. Other times they are put down after scanning a piece of merchandise and there is bending or reaching involved to get to the item. Once a device is left unattended, if there is no retail anti-theft device on the unit, it can be a target of opportunity for a thief. I recall one time when I was a Loss Prevention Manager for a store, I was monitoring one of our sales counters and noticed a store two-way radio had been left on the counter unattended. I watched it to see which associate would pick it back up so I could speak to them about their error. No employee came back to get the radio but a customer in the store DID pick it up and proceeded to walk into the parking lot with it. I stopped the would-be thief and retrieved the radio. When I asked him what he thought he was doing he said it was just sitting there so he was going to try to find the owner. I wasn’t convinced that was what he was going to do I was, however just glad to get the radio back. As I reflect on it now and I see how much more technology has grown in retail I have to wonder what would have happened had the radio been a Manager On Duty’s tablet instead! Using Alpha Thunder Tags on store owned devices can prevent these types of incidents and prevent the chance for data breaches, not to mention simply the expense of replacing a tablet or store mobile device.
Whether someone steals equipment from a retailer as a prank or they intend to try to resell it, the loss still negatively affects the business. Why not use retail anti-theft devices that are already on hand to protect your handheld devices along with your merchandise? Protect business PDA’s, tablets and mobile devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Retail mobile devices can be protected by the same retail anti-theft devices used to protect merchandise. In today’s retail environment, managers are using many different mobile devices to conduct daily operations. From tablets to handheld scanners, including i-pods and i-pads, devices are being used to track sales information, daily checklists, schedules, etc. I currently work part time in a retail store and we use mobile devices for a myriad of different tasks. I can scan to check store stock levels for merchandise, stockroom and sales floor locations for product that may appear to be out of stock and I can see if any of our nearby stores have the product if we are out of an item. We can even complete a credit card or debit card transaction sales transaction with our mobile devices to keep our customers from waiting in checkout lines. Interestingly, while the store uses Alpha Security products to prevent shoplifting, it does not use anything to protect these handheld devices that are so important to day to day operations. It would benefit not only my employer, but ANY retailer which uses mobile technology to protect these devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work in conjunction with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). When a piece of merchandise or equipment that has one of these retail anti-theft devices attached passes through an EAS antenna, the antenna alarm sounds and lights flash. These tags also have a built in alarm that activates if a device passes through an antenna and goes a certain distance away. In the event someone should attempt to remove a tag from a device, a tamper alarm activates and staff can respond to the alert, a loud, high pitched tone and prevent a theft.
You might be wondering how anyone would steal a store mobile device. Doing so is fairly straight forward. Although we wear holsters to carry our devices it is not uncommon to find scanners lying around the store. Sometimes they have been put down next to a register while a sales floor employee is helping a cashier with a customer carry-out. Other times they are put down after scanning a piece of merchandise and there is bending or reaching involved to get to the item. Once a device is left unattended, if there is no retail anti-theft device on the unit, it can be a target of opportunity for a thief. I recall one time when I was a Loss Prevention Manager for a store, I was monitoring one of our sales counters and noticed a store two-way radio had been left on the counter unattended. I watched it to see which associate would pick it back up so I could speak to them about their error. No employee came back to get the radio but a customer in the store DID pick it up and proceeded to walk into the parking lot with it. I stopped the would-be thief and retrieved the radio. When I asked him what he thought he was doing he said it was just sitting there so he was going to try to find the owner. I wasn’t convinced that was what he was going to do I was, however just glad to get the radio back. As I reflect on it now and I see how much more technology has grown in retail I have to wonder what would have happened had the radio been a Manager On Duty’s tablet instead! Using Alpha Thunder Tags on store owned devices can prevent these types of incidents and prevent the chance for data breaches, not to mention simply the expense of replacing a tablet or store mobile device.
Whether someone steals equipment from a retailer as a prank or they intend to try to resell it, the loss still negatively affects the business. Why not use retail anti-theft devices that are already on hand to protect your handheld devices along with your merchandise? Protect business PDA’s, tablets and mobile devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Checkpoint Hard Tags-5 WC blog 78
Electronic Article Surveillance-5
EAS tags-3
Checkpoint Hard Tags – A Profitable Investment
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Alpha Security – 5 WC blog 70
Retail Anti-Theft Devices – 4
Prevent Shoplifting -3
Alpha Spider Wrap-3
Alpha 3 Alarm-3
One Size May Not Fit All, But Alpha Security Has The Right Anti-Theft Device For You!
How many times do we hear the term “One Size Fits All”? I don’t know about you but I am usually hesitant to purchase anything that is sold as “One Size Fits All” or “Universal” because it rarely seems to work out for me. For example, I recently purchased a bathtub hardware kit for some plumbing work I had to do. I dropped about $45 or so into a “Universal” kit. Let me tell you this, I am not sure WHICH universe the kit was designed for but apparently it was not mine. After several trips to the hardware store I was able to get all the parts together and fix my problem (thank you ‘You Tube’!) I share this adventure because the same sort of issues can arise when looking for products that will help you prevent shoplifting. There are a lot of retail anti-theft devices on the market, but knowing what will or won’t be the right solution for your store can be a tricky problem. I am going to provide some information on Alpha Security products that will help you in your decision making process.
Before I get into a discussion of specific products, it should be understood that in order to prevent shoplifting or even employee theft, one crucial component a store needs to have is an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). This is the antenna system that detects retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products and sounds an alarm as someone attempts to exit the store with an Alpha device on it. Checkpoint Systems would be one such company that could provide you with more information on installing an EAS system.
As for merchandise protection, Alpha Security has solutions to prevent shoplifting for everything from clothing to electronics. One product is not going to work for all of the categories of product you may sell. Alpha Spider Wrap, for example, is great for protecting boxed merchandise like computers and LCD televisions but it won’t do you any good for protecting suits or dresses. Likewise, Alpha 3-Alarm clothing tags will not be any help to you in the video game section of your store. Each retail anti-theft device has a type of merchandise or packaging design it is developed to protect. Even in these categories there are variations. For instance, Alpha Spider Wrap can be ordered in several sizes for protecting small boxes such as headphone sets to an extra- large wrap that will cover a television. Try to place an extra-large wrap on a small box and the wrap slips off, not a great idea.
If it is clothing you are trying to protect Alpha products provide a selection of devices to choose from, but you may have to consider what type of protection you need. An Alpha 3-Alarm tag may be great for designer jeans but not so useful for a brassier. The delicate fabrics and need for proper fitting may require an alternative anti-theft solution offered by Alpha Security. Finding the right solution for your product lines will prevent theft and offer your customer a pleasant shopping experience.
Alpha Security products offer the best line of defense against shoplifting because they are designed to fit specific needs. While one size fits all may sound good, having a product that fits a specific requirement is often the best solution. Whether it is an Alpha 3-Alarm tag for your soft line merchandise or Alpha Spider Wrap for electronics, Alpha’s retail anti-shoplifting product line can fit any need you may have.
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
How many times do we hear the term “One Size Fits All”? I don’t know about you but I am usually hesitant to purchase anything that is sold as “One Size Fits All” or “Universal” because it rarely seems to work out for me. For example, I recently purchased a bathtub hardware kit for some plumbing work I had to do. I dropped about $45 or so into a “Universal” kit. Let me tell you this, I am not sure WHICH universe the kit was designed for but apparently it was not mine. After several trips to the hardware store I was able to get all the parts together and fix my problem (thank you ‘You Tube’!) I share this adventure because the same sort of issues can arise when looking for products that will help you prevent shoplifting. There are a lot of retail anti-theft devices on the market, but knowing what will or won’t be the right solution for your store can be a tricky problem. I am going to provide some information on Alpha Security products that will help you in your decision making process.
Before I get into a discussion of specific products, it should be understood that in order to prevent shoplifting or even employee theft, one crucial component a store needs to have is an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). This is the antenna system that detects retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products and sounds an alarm as someone attempts to exit the store with an Alpha device on it. Checkpoint Systems would be one such company that could provide you with more information on installing an EAS system.
As for merchandise protection, Alpha Security has solutions to prevent shoplifting for everything from clothing to electronics. One product is not going to work for all of the categories of product you may sell. Alpha Spider Wrap, for example, is great for protecting boxed merchandise like computers and LCD televisions but it won’t do you any good for protecting suits or dresses. Likewise, Alpha 3-Alarm clothing tags will not be any help to you in the video game section of your store. Each retail anti-theft device has a type of merchandise or packaging design it is developed to protect. Even in these categories there are variations. For instance, Alpha Spider Wrap can be ordered in several sizes for protecting small boxes such as headphone sets to an extra- large wrap that will cover a television. Try to place an extra-large wrap on a small box and the wrap slips off, not a great idea.
If it is clothing you are trying to protect Alpha products provide a selection of devices to choose from, but you may have to consider what type of protection you need. An Alpha 3-Alarm tag may be great for designer jeans but not so useful for a brassier. The delicate fabrics and need for proper fitting may require an alternative anti-theft solution offered by Alpha Security. Finding the right solution for your product lines will prevent theft and offer your customer a pleasant shopping experience.
Alpha Security products offer the best line of defense against shoplifting because they are designed to fit specific needs. While one size fits all may sound good, having a product that fits a specific requirement is often the best solution. Whether it is an Alpha 3-Alarm tag for your soft line merchandise or Alpha Spider Wrap for electronics, Alpha’s retail anti-shoplifting product line can fit any need you may have.
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Alpha Keepers – 4 WC blog 01
Prevent Shoplifting – 4
I Can See Clearly Now…With Alpha Keepers
One of the challenging aspects of shortage prevention is maintaining a balance between merchandise control and access to products. The loss prevention professional desires to keep high theft merchandise out of the hands of the criminals and prevent shoplifting. Store owners and managers generally want to allow access to products. Alpha Keepers provides that happy medium that makes for a harmonious relationship between loss prevention’s efforts to minimize accessibility and limit opportunity for theft and operation’s efforts to drive sales through ease of access for the customer.
Alpha Keepers are strong, clear cases that come in a variety of shapes and sizes that can fit a wide range of products. Whether a store specializes in fragrances, or sells a bit of everything, I have seen Alpha Keepers used to protect all types of merchandise. USB Jump Drives, videogames, razor blades and even baby formula can all be protected. If tampered with, these boxes will sound a high pitched audible alarm that will alert store associates that something is not right. There is no question that these devices will prevent shoplifting and decrease shortage. Since it is a clear box, the customer can see the packaging, read the product information and get the information they need to make a purchasing decision. Because they are not secured to a shelf, or locked behind glass, customers can carry the item with them in the store. They are only restricted in gaining access to the actual product. For the majority of customers, this is sufficient for meeting their needs.
My experience and background may give me a slightly different perspective in the arena of retail theft prevention from some others in the profession. I spent many years working in Loss Prevention, both as a store security officer and as an Asset Protection Executive. I also spent some time as a store Logistics Executive. I learned over time that profitable sales are not the result of a single strategy. In order to prevent shoplifting of high theft merchandise often the first response of a Loss Prevention team is to find a way to remove the product from the reach of would be shoplifters. Think about it, from a loss prevention perspective, if they can’t touch it they can’t steal it…right? A locking security fixture was a reasonable solution, let the consumer look through the glass in wonder at the video games in the case…Awesome (not)! The store manager wants the customer to pick up product, get it in their hands, and take it to a checkout counter, the more they pick up, the more they buy right? And doesn’t everyone know that more sales equates to a lower shortage percentage? When a store uses Alpha Keepers it gets the benefit of a locking showcase with the flexibility of putting merchandise in customer’s hands.
Certainly there is a case to be made for each school of thought. In their own ways, the loss prevention team and the store manager are both right, and they are both wrong. Customers want to be able to touch the product, to read packaging, to have a good idea of what they are buying. Let’s be honest, companies spend millions of dollars to strategize on what packaging to use to draw in new buyers. In a like manner, experts in retail theft prevention understand that shoplifters, whether professional boosters or casual opportunists, look for the easily targeted products that are not protected by some type of anti-shoplifting system or device.
Alpha Keepers provides that solution that can bridge the divide between the need to protect products and prevent shoplifting while allowing the honest customer to view and carry a product. Security and sales no longer need to be exclusive. Working together, loss prevention and store management can increase sales and decrease shortage at the same time.
For more information about Alpha Keepers contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
One of the challenging aspects of shortage prevention is maintaining a balance between merchandise control and access to products. The loss prevention professional desires to keep high theft merchandise out of the hands of the criminals and prevent shoplifting. Store owners and managers generally want to allow access to products. Alpha Keepers provides that happy medium that makes for a harmonious relationship between loss prevention’s efforts to minimize accessibility and limit opportunity for theft and operation’s efforts to drive sales through ease of access for the customer.
Alpha Keepers are strong, clear cases that come in a variety of shapes and sizes that can fit a wide range of products. Whether a store specializes in fragrances, or sells a bit of everything, I have seen Alpha Keepers used to protect all types of merchandise. USB Jump Drives, videogames, razor blades and even baby formula can all be protected. If tampered with, these boxes will sound a high pitched audible alarm that will alert store associates that something is not right. There is no question that these devices will prevent shoplifting and decrease shortage. Since it is a clear box, the customer can see the packaging, read the product information and get the information they need to make a purchasing decision. Because they are not secured to a shelf, or locked behind glass, customers can carry the item with them in the store. They are only restricted in gaining access to the actual product. For the majority of customers, this is sufficient for meeting their needs.
My experience and background may give me a slightly different perspective in the arena of retail theft prevention from some others in the profession. I spent many years working in Loss Prevention, both as a store security officer and as an Asset Protection Executive. I also spent some time as a store Logistics Executive. I learned over time that profitable sales are not the result of a single strategy. In order to prevent shoplifting of high theft merchandise often the first response of a Loss Prevention team is to find a way to remove the product from the reach of would be shoplifters. Think about it, from a loss prevention perspective, if they can’t touch it they can’t steal it…right? A locking security fixture was a reasonable solution, let the consumer look through the glass in wonder at the video games in the case…Awesome (not)! The store manager wants the customer to pick up product, get it in their hands, and take it to a checkout counter, the more they pick up, the more they buy right? And doesn’t everyone know that more sales equates to a lower shortage percentage? When a store uses Alpha Keepers it gets the benefit of a locking showcase with the flexibility of putting merchandise in customer’s hands.
Certainly there is a case to be made for each school of thought. In their own ways, the loss prevention team and the store manager are both right, and they are both wrong. Customers want to be able to touch the product, to read packaging, to have a good idea of what they are buying. Let’s be honest, companies spend millions of dollars to strategize on what packaging to use to draw in new buyers. In a like manner, experts in retail theft prevention understand that shoplifters, whether professional boosters or casual opportunists, look for the easily targeted products that are not protected by some type of anti-shoplifting system or device.
Alpha Keepers provides that solution that can bridge the divide between the need to protect products and prevent shoplifting while allowing the honest customer to view and carry a product. Security and sales no longer need to be exclusive. Working together, loss prevention and store management can increase sales and decrease shortage at the same time.
For more information about Alpha Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Alpha Hang Tags-5 WC blog 79
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-5
Prevent Shoplifting – 3
Boosters Won’t Hang Around When Alpha Hang Tags Are Used To Protect Merchandise
Professional shoplifters, or boosters, are a headache for all retailers. These are the shoplifters that go into stores and steal large quantities of merchandise at one time. They will take anything, but often their favorite items are small, higher dollar products that can be easily resold at flea markets or over the internet. Frequently the booster will steal peg hook displayed merchandise because it is easy to slide the items off. One sweep and an entire peg hook of merchandise can be concealed in a large tote, a purse or other types of bags. A few of the popular targets are razor blades, razors, toothbrushes, power tool accessories, and many electronics items. Consider the prices of a few of the items from a popular big box retail store; Norelco electric razor replacement heads $29.99/box, Schick Hydro 5 Men’s 12 pack blades $31.49/box, 4 count Brush Buddies toothbrushes $14.99/pack. Now imagine sweeping a peg hook worth of any one of these products into a bag, perhaps 10 seconds work? At five to ten items per peg hook, a booster can make a significant haul and a retailer can take a huge loss.
The problem becomes one of finding retail anti-theft devices that can prevent shoplifting of these items.
When I worked for one of these big box retailers, we were experiencing losses caused by boosters and someone came up with the anti-sweep peg hooks. The idea was to slow down the booster, by forcing the merchandise to stop at the end of the peg hook and be slipped over a curve or hook in the peg. This slowed the boosters down a little, but not enough to make a drastic impact on their activity. The next innovation was the locking peg hook. These retail anti-theft devices require a special key to open them. Today, many stores use locking peg hooks in their merchandise protection strategies but, not all of them are used effectively. Unfortunately, boosters work hard to find ways to defeat the next generation of merchandise protection strategy and with locking peg hooks, it was kind of obvious that merchandise is often held on to the peg with a flimsy plastic or cardboard hang tab. So, boosters started to cut away the tabs and the merchandise was off. The booster was slowed down even more, but still getting the product. Alpha Hang Tags complete the protection offered by locking peg hooks by stopping the booster from cutting the product tab.
Alpha hang tags are two piece retail anti-theft devices that clip together over the hang tab, whether it is cardboard or plastic. These tag reinforcers prevent shoplifting by interfering with the booster cutting through the tab and removing the merchandise from the peg hook. Alpha hang tags come in radio frequency or acoustic magnetic designs so they will activate any store Electronic Article Surveillance system. Should a thief attempt to walk out with merchandise protected by these retail anti-theft devices an EAS antenna will alarm and alert store personnel to a theft attempt. Even if a store did not choose to utilize the locking peg hooks, the Alpha hang tags will still add the benefit of EAS protection to the merchandise.
One additional benefit of these retail anti- theft devices is that they come with two different length pins. Some merchandise, such as video game headsets, comes in a very thick blister pack. The package tab is thick enough and designed so that a small pin would not be long enough to extend through the peg hole opening of the tab. The Alpha hang tag can use the longer pin backing for these items and once the item is sold and the hang tag is ready to be reused on another product, the smaller pin backing can be applied. The ability to interchange pieces makes this a great purchase for a retailer.
Boosters can wreak havoc on a store if strong measures are not taken to prevent shoplifting. Applying Alpha hang tags to peg holed merchandise can provide the protection of EAS and when used with locking peg hooks, they can prevent nearly all theft of peg hook product.
For more information on Alpha Hang Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Professional shoplifters, or boosters, are a headache for all retailers. These are the shoplifters that go into stores and steal large quantities of merchandise at one time. They will take anything, but often their favorite items are small, higher dollar products that can be easily resold at flea markets or over the internet. Frequently the booster will steal peg hook displayed merchandise because it is easy to slide the items off. One sweep and an entire peg hook of merchandise can be concealed in a large tote, a purse or other types of bags. A few of the popular targets are razor blades, razors, toothbrushes, power tool accessories, and many electronics items. Consider the prices of a few of the items from a popular big box retail store; Norelco electric razor replacement heads $29.99/box, Schick Hydro 5 Men’s 12 pack blades $31.49/box, 4 count Brush Buddies toothbrushes $14.99/pack. Now imagine sweeping a peg hook worth of any one of these products into a bag, perhaps 10 seconds work? At five to ten items per peg hook, a booster can make a significant haul and a retailer can take a huge loss. The problem becomes one of finding retail anti-theft devices that can prevent shoplifting of these items.
When I worked for one of these big box retailers, we were experiencing losses caused by boosters and someone came up with the anti-sweep peg hooks. The idea was to slow down the booster, by forcing the merchandise to stop at the end of the peg hook and be slipped over a curve or hook in the peg. This slowed the boosters down a little, but not enough to make a drastic impact on their activity. The next innovation was the locking peg hook. These retail anti-theft devices require a special key to open them. Today, many stores use locking peg hooks in their merchandise protection strategies but, not all of them are used effectively. Unfortunately, boosters work hard to find ways to defeat the next generation of merchandise protection strategy and with locking peg hooks, it was kind of obvious that merchandise is often held on to the peg with a flimsy plastic or cardboard hang tab. So, boosters started to cut away the tabs and the merchandise was off. The booster was slowed down even more, but still getting the product. Alpha Hang Tags complete the protection offered by locking peg hooks by stopping the booster from cutting the product tab.
Alpha hang tags are two piece retail anti-theft devices that clip together over the hang tab, whether it is cardboard or plastic. These tag reinforcers prevent shoplifting by interfering with the booster cutting through the tab and removing the merchandise from the peg hook. Alpha hang tags come in radio frequency or acoustic magnetic designs so they will activate any store Electronic Article Surveillance system. Should a thief attempt to walk out with merchandise protected by these retail anti-theft devices an EAS antenna will alarm and alert store personnel to a theft attempt. Even if a store did not choose to utilize the locking peg hooks, the Alpha hang tags will still add the benefit of EAS protection to the merchandise.
One additional benefit of these retail anti- theft devices is that they come with two different length pins. Some merchandise, such as video game headsets, comes in a very thick blister pack. The package tab is thick enough and designed so that a small pin would not be long enough to extend through the peg hole opening of the tab. The Alpha hang tag can use the longer pin backing for these items and once the item is sold and the hang tag is ready to be reused on another product, the smaller pin backing can be applied. The ability to interchange pieces makes this a great purchase for a retailer.
Boosters can wreak havoc on a store if strong measures are not taken to prevent shoplifting. Applying Alpha hang tags to peg holed merchandise can provide the protection of EAS and when used with locking peg hooks, they can prevent nearly all theft of peg hook product.
For more information on Alpha Hang Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
